MA9001 Introduction to energy

MA9001 Introduction to Energy
Taken in AY 18/19 Semester 1

Course details
Offered in Sem 1
AUs: 3
Category: UE
Pass/Fail mod: No
No tutorial classes. Online recorded lectures available.

Assessment
- CA1: 30% + CA2: 40% + CA3: 30% = 100%
- Week 6, Week 10, Week 13.
- All MCQ, 10 questions for CA1 & CA3, 13 questions for CA2.

Syllabus
1. Overview of Energy Scenario (3 hrs) 
Units for measurement of energy and power. Historical energy demand. World energy use by source type. Estimated world energy reserves by type. Detrimental effects of energy utilization to the environment. Carbon emission and global warming.

2. Electricity System in Society (3 hrs)
Overview of electrical energy systems. Generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Environmental impact of transmission lines. The Singapore scenario. 

3. Fossil Fuel Energy (6 hrs)
Chemical energy stored in coal, crude oil and natural gas. The structure and the main processes in the modern oil refinery. Similar technology in combustion, boiler, turbine, and electricity generator. Direct use for heat. Combustion products and the environment. The condenser. Thermodynamic limitation and thermal pollution. 

4. Wind Energy (2 hrs)
Extraction of energy from wind. Wind turbines and wind farms. Wind turbine types. Siting.

5. Hydroelectric Energy (2 hrs)
Hydroelectric energy as indirect energy from the sun. Conversion from potential to kinetic energy at dams. Water turbine types. Environmental concerns. 

6. Geothermal and Ocean Energy (2 hrs)
Harnessing energy from geothermal resources. Requirements and existing technology. Harnessing energy from the ocean. Tidal energy. Ocean thermal energy conversion. 

7. Bioenergy (2 hrs)
Conversion of biomaterials into fuels. Direct combustion. Biogas from wastes. Biomass production from farms. Vegetable oils. Bioethanol. Biodiesel. Pros and cons. 

8. Nuclear Energy (4 hrs)
Nuclear fuel. Physics of the nuclear fission reaction. The nuclear reactor as a boiler. Main nuclear reactor types. Environmental and social concerns. Potential for nuclear fusion energy.

9. Solar Energy - Part 1 (2 hrs); Part 2 (3 hrs) 

Part 1. Direct energy from the sun - Applications
Part 2. Photovoltaic electricity generation. 

10. Energy Storage, Transmission, Conservation and Future of Energy (4 hrs)
The challenge in energy storage. Mechanical storage. Thermal storage. Charge storage. Fuel cells and the hydrogen economy. Efficient utilization of energy. Energy conservation.

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My opinion:
There are several lecturers giving the lectures on different topics, all from different schools, so the lecture style is different. I got so stressed studying for this mod because there are only 10 questions for quiz 1 & 3, 13 questions for quiz 2, I studied but I missed out the details that they test!! ARGH!!

I don't have much about to say about this mod besides that it is quite content heavy (as per all MCQ mods LOL), only basic calculation, don't need in depth knowledge of any of the subject topics, but so much breadth and only so few questions, it's like trying to strike lottery.

Maybe my opinion will change after I get my result.. HAHA!!


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TL;DR: Too few MCQ questions make bell curve very steep. Sometimes really see luck what you study have come out or not.
I will recommend if: You plan to S/U

My results:
CA1: 10/10 (I got lucky uh..i guessed some of the questions LOL)
CA2: 11/13
CA3: 6/10 (SAD I SCREWED IT UP, used up my luck..)

Average for the cohort:
CA1: The average score was 8.3/10 standard deviation 1.4.
CA2: The average score was 11.5/10 standard deviation 1.4.
CA3: The average score was 8.3/10 standard deviation 1.36.

Final grade under UE: waiting for result next year!! I didnt choose to SU, hope i dont regret...
UPDATE: OMG! I GOT A!!! That is so unexpected!! T_T tears of joy